[dpc_pw]

Knowing only React, or one programming language doesn't make you a specialist. It just means you have very little knowledge and/or experience. What's next? "if statement developer"?

Software engineering as a whole, is one specialization. Maaaybe backend vs fronted could be made into two meaningful specializations. Or "distributed systems", "game development", "financial systems" etc areas. But not one framework/ PL. Come on. :D

I don't want to bash on people who actually only know one language/framework. It's OK, it can pay your bills, etc. Maybe you also have great skills and interests in non-software areas. But just don't fool yourself thinking "I'm a React specialist".

[mettamage]

You are a specialist if that's the only thing you're doing. And such a word becomes meaningful once you're doing it +3 to +5 years, IMO. I've seen a modicum of posts on HN that was something along the lines of "I've been a C++ developer for the past 12 years, how do I become a web developer?" So I guess there's something to it.

At least in some of the cases.

[dpc_pw]

> "I've been a C++ developer for the past 12 years, how do I become a web developer?"

That's just wrong way to put it. This C++ has been used for something (kernel, embedded, system level programming, games). That's the meaningful area of "specialization", with C++ being one of the tools used there.